Rhododendron plant named &#39; BAILEA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhododendron  cultivar named ‘BAILEA’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive semi-double red and red-purple flowers. Plants bloom Spring, Summer and Fall and exhibit good tolerance to environmental stressors. Plants are very well suited for performance in the landscape, including as a specimen plant or a hedge. The new cultivar is a  Rhododendron , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Rhododendron hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘BAILEA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program by the inventor, Robert Edward Lee. The inventor's intention was to develop Rhododendron hybrid plants with re-blooming characteristics and good landscape performance. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘BAILEA’, was discovered as a seedling, resulting from the crossing of Rhododendron ‘May Blaine, unpatented with the pollen parent Rhododendron ‘Fourth of July’, unpatented. The cross resulting in the new variety occurred during the Spring of 1994. The new variety was selected by the inventor during November of 1996 at a commercial nursery in Independence, La.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘BAILEA’ by vegetative cuttings Fall of 1998 at the same commercial nursery in Independence, La. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. At least three generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BAILEA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BAILEA’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BAILEA’ as a new and distinct Rhododendron cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique Spring, Summer, and Fall blooming.     -   2. Semi-double flowers.     -   3. Self-Cleaning flowers     -   4. Tolerant of a variety of environmental stressors.     -   5. Plants very well suited for landscape use, including hedge         planting or as a specimen.     -   7. Observed hardy to Zone 7 and potentially Zone 6.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘BAILEA’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the seed parent Rhododendron hybrid ‘May Blaine’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEA’ however differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a red-purple flower, the seed parent has         a light lavender flower.     -   2. The new variety blooms more consistently over three seasons,         the seed parent blooms in Spring.     -   3. Plants of the new variety are more compact than the seed         parent.     -   4. Flowers of the new variety are semi-double, flowers of the         parent variety are most commonly double, with some semi-double         flowers on the plant.     -   5. Plants of the new variety are better suited for landscape         use.

‘BAILEA’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the pollen parent Rhododendron hybrid ‘Fourth of July’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEA’ however differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety are more compact than plants of the         pollen parent.     -   2. Plants of the new variety are better suited for landscape         use.     -   3. Plants of the new variety have stronger, less sensitive roots         than plants of the pollen parent.     -   4. Plants of the new variety are more tolerant of environmental         stressors than plants of the pollen parent.     -   5. Plants of the new variety are more Winter hardy than plants         of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BAILEA’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrid ‘Roblec’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,339. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEA’ are similar to plants of ‘Roblec’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEA’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘Bailea’ has flowers colored near Red 54B and Red-Purple 64D;         flowers of ‘Roblec’ are colored near Red-Purple 73B.     -   2. Plants of ‘Bailea’ grow more vigorously than plants of         ‘Roblec’.     -   3. Foliage of ‘Bailea’ is sub-opposite and obovate, foliage of         ‘Roblec’ is alternate and elliptic.

‘BAILEA’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrid ‘Conlea’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,438. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEA’ are similar to plants of ‘Conlea’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEA’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. ‘Bailea’ has flowers colored Red and Red-Purple, near Red 54B         and Red-Purple 64D , ‘Conlea’ has flowers which are solid Red,         colored near Red 54A     -   2. Foliage of ‘Bailea’ is sub-opposite and obovate, foliage of         ‘Conlea’ is alternate and elliptic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a 2 year old plant of the new variety in a 3 gallon pot. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of typical flowers of the new variety. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘BAILEA’ plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrid ‘BAILEA’. -   Propagation: Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings in Spring and     Summer.     -   -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous young roots, well branched.             Colored near RHS Grey-Brown 199A. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright evergreen shrub.         -   Height.—Approximately 75 cm to top of foliar and flowering             plane.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 68 cm.         -   Branching characteristics.—Well branched, approximately 3 to             6 primary branches from the center of the plant. Branches             occur at approximately 15° to 30° angles. Each primary             branch has 4 to 8 lateral branches.         -   Primary branches.—         -   Length of primary branches.—Average range 25 to 40 cm.         -   Diameter of primary branches.—Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Primary branch strength.—Very strong, difficult to break.         -   Primary branch color.—Near Greyed-Orange 177A, streaked             177B.         -   Primary branch texture.—Scaly, rough.         -   Lateral branches.—         -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 4 to 8 per primary             branch.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Average range 20 to 30 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Average 0.3 to 0.6 cm.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Very strong, flexible.         -   Lateral branch color.—New growth near RHS Greyed-Red 181A,             next stage, near RHS Yellow-Green 152D; oldest branches             become woody, colored near Greyed-Orange 177A.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Immature growth hirsute. Older             growth scaly, hirsute. Hairs semi-appressed and colored near             Greyed-Orange 175C.         -   Internode length.—Average 3.0 cm.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Type: Simple Arrangement: Sub-opposite. Average             Length: Approximately 4.7 cm. Average Width: Approximately             2.2 cm. Shape of blade: Obovate. Apex: Acute to nearly             mucronate. Base: Broad attenuate. Attachment: Stalked             Margin: Entire. Cilliate. Texture of top surface: Pubescent.             Hairs appressed, very short, rough. Texture of bottom             surface: Pubescent. Longer hairs present along main vein and             margin. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144A, slightly darker Young foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 138B Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Green 137A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green             147B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144C Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 151A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 0.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.15 cm             Color: Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146D Lower             Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151B. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Plants begin flowering in the Spring, and             continue to produce flowers throughout Summer and Fall.         -   Flower.—         -   Arrangement.—Axillary clusters of perfect, open funnel             shaped individual flowers. Typically 3 to 5 flowers per             cluster.         -   Inflorescence.—Height: Average 10.0 cm. Diameter: Average             12.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Not present, inflorescence pedicels emerge             directly from node.         -   Pedicel.—Length: Average 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm.             Color: Near RHS Red 53C Texture: Densely pubescent. Long,             soft hairs colored near White N155B Aspect: Straight. Angle             of attachment, approximately 45° angle from stem. Strength:             Very sturdy and flexible.         -   Flowers.—Length: Average 4.2 cm. Diameter: Average 6.5 cm.             Facing direction: Outwardly and upwardly facing. Persistent             or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning Fragrance: Very faint.         -   Tube.—Tube length: Approximately 2.2 cm Tube width a widest             point: Approximately 1.5 cm Tube width and narrowest point:             Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Unfused petal segments: Length: Approximately             2.9 cm. Width: Approximately 2.7 cm Apex: Blunt, rounded.             Occasionally retuse. Shape of petal: Unfused portion,             obovate. Petal margin: Entire. Aspect very slightly             undulating. Petal Arrangement: Overlapping, bilateral             symmetry dissecting bottom petal. Petals fused approximately             1/2 distance from base. Petal Number: 5 full petals. 3 to 5             irregularly shaped and sized petaloids in center of flower.             Petal Texture: Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple             63A near margins, 63B in center. Dotted near Red-Purple 59B.             Under surface at first opening: Near RHS Red-Purple 63B             Inner surface at maturity: Near RHS Red 54B, 3 upper petals             dotted with Red-Purple 61A Outer surface at maturity: Near             RHS Red-Purple 64D Upper surface at fading: Near RHS Red             54B, 3 upper petals more heavily dotted with Red-Purple 61A             Under surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple 62A.         -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic Length: 5.0 cm Diameter: 1.8 cm Color:             Near RHS Red-Purple N57D.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 sepals Shape: Narrow             deltate Length: 0.7 cm Width: 0.4 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused             Margin: Entire Texture: Highly pubescent, sericeous. Color:             Inner Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A, lower margin and             base flushed near Red-Purple 59B. Outer Surface: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145A, lower margin and base flushed near             Red-Purple 59D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5, fused to petaloids at irregular lengths.             Some stamens fully fused, with only anther unfused, some             stamens 10% fused to petaloids Stamen Length: 1.8 to 2.6 cm             Width: 0.1 cm Color: Near RHS Red-Purple N57A Anthers:             Length: Approximately .3 cm Color: Near RHS Greyed-Yellow             61D Pollen: Not observed.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Average range 3.9 cm to 6.0 cm.             Style: Length: Average 3.5 cm to 5.6 cm. Color: Near RHS Red             53B Stigma: Globular, colored near Red 53B Ovary: Sericeous             texture. Approximately 0.4 cm in diameter. Colored near             Yellow-Green 145A. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Not observed to be susceptible             nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Rhododendron.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Observed hardy to USDA Zone 7,             potentially hardy to zone 6.         -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘BAILEA’ as herein illustrated and described. 